Glossary

A glossary of terms for those interested in affordable housing, renting, and keeping your home.

Actions – This is what the LA Tenants Union (and maybe other tenant groups) call any activity to draw

attention to a housing problem with a landlord: It’s usually protests and marching, but could be sign carrying, singing, papering the neighborhood with flyers, handing out information, putting up signs, boycotting or even occupying.(more on that later)

Bad Actor – I love this one! What the real estate industry calls worthless landlords. Really, bad actors are the worst, aren’t they?

Chants – This is what the LA Tenants Union calls the songs or sentences they speak or yell. The military calls them cadences. They do have a catchy rhythm. 🙂

Costa-Hawkins Act: Go to bloody hell. This is the reason so few cities in California have rent control. Homelessness, tears, violence.

Displacement – This is a big word used heavily in the media, but it’s really just a synonym for Eviction, which is grossly misunderstood, and negative. Displacement is a weak word. However, it also does point to the problem that not only are you losing your home, you’re losing your neighbors, your community, your Trader Joe’s, your mailman, your street, your birdbath, your views, your stuff that doesn’t fit in the new place, your voting precinct, your Councilman, your Neighborhood Council and lots more. So it’s an important word, too.

Ellis Act: Only affects renters with Rent Control. Landlord kicks you out. Sorry, I don’t know any more.

Eviction – If it’s a 3 day pay or quit notice, you better pay your rent right quick, or you’re out. If you just pay, even in court, you’re okay. A lawyer is HIGHLY recommended. There are a lot of low-fee ones just for this purpose. Or an eviction could be no-fault, it’s nothing  you did, and there’s nothing on G-d’s green earth you can do to fix it yourself. You need to go to Eviction Defense Network, Coalition for Economic Support, or another tenants rights group, and join the LA Tenants Union. You have to do something, or lose your rightful home. Either way, the landlord has his foot on your neck. Remember: it’s not your fault.

Eviction Court -In 2015, landlords filed 51,203 eviction cases in Los Angeles County. Source – NY Times. More now. And how many cities have their own Eviction Court besides us? With their own judges and courtrooms? Isn’t that special.

Harassment – This could be sexual, but is more likely psychological torture – harder to prove. For us, it means 344 days of useless constant construction and counting, water turned off, no garbage collection for days, abusive workers, parking taken away, rent raises of up to $850, evictions for no reason, breakins, breaking into your apartment with no permission, breaking into your locker,

HCID – Housing and Community Investment Department = the Housing department of Los Angeles. They help only those who have Rent Control. This means they help less than half the renters in the city. Plus: the Community Investment part means they are ALSO helping your landlord against you! A house divided against itself, cannot stand…So why are we paying taxes for this???

Just Cause Eviction – Councilman Gil Cedillo proposed this almost 2 years ago. He even got asked about it in the LA Times and he’s also Chair of the Housing Committee!! But he did nothing with it, and it never got before the Council. Laziness wins. (see No Fault Eviction)

LATU – Los Angeles Tenants Union. There are several chapters in the city. Just go to get  information, and see how you like it. Some chapters are better than others. More info is always good.

No Fault Eviction – There is no reason written for the eviction. If you have Rent Control, there has to be a good reason for your eviction. If you aren’t protected by Rent Control, buh-bye. They don’t need to tell you why. You may never find out. And you are totally innocent. The Notice will give you 60 days to move. (see Just Cause Eviction)

Non-RSO – The majority of renters in Los Angeles have this – no Rent Control, and not one law in 40 years to help or protect you

Occupy – I had never heard of this until this fall. Remember Occupy Wall Street? I had heard the slogan, but

that’s it. And that was back in 2011. But just this fall, Prop 10 supporters held an occupy against Blackstone in Santa Monica, and several were taken away in handcuffs. And of course we had an Occupy right here on Waverly just last month. (deets to come!)

RSO – Rent Control (Rent Stabilization Ordinance)

 

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